The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday asked Churchill Brothers to return the I-League trophy it presented to the club despite a stay order from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
On Sunday, hours after the Switzerland-based CAS stayed AIFF’s decision to declare Churchill Brothers as I-League champion and barred it from conducting any formal medal ceremony, the national federation awarded the winner’s trophy to the Goan club.
AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayan presented the trophy to Churchill Brothers players and later claimed that the federation learnt about the CAS order only after the ceremony was over as its secretariat was closed on Sunday.
But on Monday, the AIFF was forced to ask Churchill to return the trophy.
“On Monday, we have written to Churchill Brothers to return the I-League trophy,” an AIFF source told PTI on condition of anonymity.
READ: Chhangte: I believe something good will happen this year for Indian national team
“We are bound to obey CAS order. Let the CAS decide on the matter, and we will hand over the trophy after the decision.”
The AIFF Disciplinary Committee had awarded a 3-0 forfeit win and three points to Inter Kashi after ruling that Namdhari fielded an ‘ineligible player’.
That decision would have taken Inter Kashi to 42 points, enough to clinch the title. However, the AIFF Appeals Committee later put the Disciplinary Committee order “inoperative and in abeyance” pending a final hearing.
After a delayed process, including a postponed April 12 hearing due to Namdhari’s counsel citing “sickness”, the AIFF’s Appeals Committee on April 18 set aside the Disciplinary Committee’s order and ruled in favour of Churchill.
On the basis of its Appeal Committee ruling, the AIFF had declared Churchill Brothers as I-League champion.
